Work and Income Limits for SSDI Recipients

For individuals receiving SSDI, the SSA allows you to work while receiving benefits, but there are income limits that you must adhere to. The SSA uses a metric called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine if your earnings are too high to qualify for disability benefits.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for 2025

• For non-blind SSDI recipients, the monthly earnings limit for SGA is $1,470 (before taxes).
• For blind SSDI recipients, the SGA limit is $2,460 per month.

If you earn more than these amounts, the SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled and could stop your benefits. However, there are certain work incentives and programs that can allow you to earn more without immediately losing your benefits.

Trial Work Period (TWP)

If you are an SSDI recipient and want to try working, you can participate in the Trial Work Period (TWP). During the TWP, you can earn more than the SGA limit without losing your SSDI benefits.

For 2025, any month in which you earn $1,050 or more counts as a Trial Work Month (TWM). You can have up to 9 TWM in a 60-month period, and your benefits will continue during this time. Once you've used up your 9 TWM, the SSA will review your case and determine whether you're still eligible for benefits.

Work Incentives for SSDI Recipients

Even if you exceed the SGA limit or use up your TWP, there are additional work incentives that might apply:

• Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): After your Trial Work Period, you enter the EPE, where you can continue to receive benefits for months in which you earn less than the SGA limit.
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): If you have to pay for things related to your disability in order to work (e.g., a special wheelchair), these expenses can be deducted from your earnings, potentially allowing you to stay below the SGA threshold.

Work and Income Limits for SSI Recipients

SSI is need-based, meaning the amount of income you earn, as well as the amount of resources you have, affects your eligibility. The income limit for SSI varies based on your living situation, but generally, the 2025 SSI income limit is:

• For individuals: $914 per month
• For couples: $1,371 per month

If you earn more than these amounts, your SSI benefits may be reduced or stopped. However, the SSA allows some earned income exclusions, such as:



• The $65 work income exclusion (the first $65 of earned income per month is not counted).
• The $20 general income exclusion (the first $20 of any income is not counted).

These exclusions allow you to earn some money while still receiving benefits, but you must be careful not to exceed the limits.